THE INQUEST.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9366, 16 March 1896, Page 2

THE INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the New Brighton Hotel, at 3 p.m., on Sunday, before Mr R. Beetham, S.M., Coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr (.. P. Hulbert was chosen foreman, touching the death of William Francis Warner and James Murray, two of the victims of the fatal boating accident on the Estuary on Friday night. Constable Fiewelien conducted the enquiry, and Mr F. Fuller was present on behalf of the late Mr Murray's family. After the jury had viewed the bodies the following evidence was called. *

Harry NeUon Hawker deposed—l am a baker and confectioner residing at New Brighton. I left New Brighton by the 9 p.m. tram for town on Friday, Messrs Murray and Stewart being with mc. We met Mr ' Warner in town, and we left for Monck's jetty, near Sumner, by the 10 o'clock tram. | We went down to bring up tbe yacht Waitangi for the races at New Brighton on Saturday afternoon. We stopped at Monck's till about half-past twelve, as the wind was rather rough. We then started for New Brighton. We sailed with a double-reefed mainsail and a reefed jib, and got on all right with a small breeze till off the tripod at the junction of the rivers Heathaote and Avon. We then met a strong puff of wind, but- got through it all right. Half a mile further on we caught a still stronger puff broadside on. The boat refused to answer her helm, and ou the sail touching the water she went over easily and filled. Mr Warner got on the mast; Stewart was a little further down the mast, and Murray must have been standing on the gunwale on the port side. I was at tha tiller, and had to swim to the mast. We then had a talk as to what we had better do. The boat was perfectly rigid and appeared to be quite safe. We concluded that I was to swim ashore, and I did so, taking a line—the main sheet—with mc. I thought that if they did have to swim it was principally Mr Warner that would require assistance. I could not get ashore with the line, as it was too short, and had to let go. Soon after I let go of it I struck the sand with my feet. I looked round and saw that the others were all right as I had left them. I had to swim two or three creeks before I got to mud, across which I had to crawl and roll in some places. lat length reached Nankiveil's, and he got his punt and came with mc to the scene of the disaster. When we got there we could see no signs of the boat or the men, and pulled over to the New Brighton shore, thinking my comrades might have followed mc out. Wo searched the flats well, but found no Bi'gns of them, and the. came back to New Brighton, reaching home about 5 a.m.

To the Coroner—Everything about the yacht was in good condition, and all were perfectly sober. Examination continued —We started on the first flow of the tide, and tbe flats were not then covered. We capsized in the stream in about 7ft or Bft of water, for when Murray was standing on the gunwale of the boat the water was up to his waist. AU the occupants of the boat conld swim. I went for assistance, being a good swimmer, and knowing the place well. I had to swim about twenty yards before I touched the bottom with my feet. To the Coroner—When I left the other three thought that as the boat was rigid they would be as safe there as standing on the mud if they got ashore. It was a cold night, and the others must have got the cramp either where they were standing or in trying to swim ashore. To the Foreman—l had all I could do to get across the mud, and I do not think that Mr Warner or Mr Murray could have got through it. To a juror—l could not say how long it was from the time I left till I got back to the soene of the accident. John Thompson stated that he was one of the search party which went out on Saturday and found the body ot Mr Murray on a flat nob far from the river, having apparently been washed up by the current. He waa lying on his face, with his hands by his side. It was about a mile or a mile and a half from tbe spot where the accident happened.

Horace Thompson deposed that he was oub searching on Sunday and found the body of Mr Warner about 200 yards up stream from whore the yacht was lying. It was in about 2ft of water. Thab was all tbe evidence. The Coroner said there should be so difficulty about the verdict. There was no doubt that those unfortunate people were sailing ths yacht, and as Mr Hawker had told them, it was capsized by a puff of wind. Mr Hawker said that the boat was in good order, and he detcribed how the accident occurred. Of course tbey only bad his account—and in the nature of things they could gee no other—bub they bad no reason to doubt his word, as he had given his evidence in a straightforward manner. He appeared to have behaved very pluckily and had considerable difficulty in saving his own life.

After five minutes' deliberation, the jury returned a verdict " Thab tbe deceased were accidentally drowned by the upsetting of the yacht Waitangi in tbe Estuary at Sumner," and added the foUowing rider— "That, ia the opinion of the jury, yachts and boats using the Estuary should carry

life belts or buoys, which would probably prevent accidents of this character) and,

further, that Mr H, Hawker did his betunder the circumstances to save the lives of those that were lost."